1:14 PM, October 6, 2012

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson / JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP

Detroit Free Press Columnist

Braxton Miller is a much better quarterback as a sophomore than Denard Robinson is as a senior.

The young man is extraordinarily talented. Miller was one of the nation’s top-ranked recruits two years ago.

But his vast improvement in one year is as much a result of Urban Meyer’s coaching as it is pure talent.

Last week against Michigan State, Miller was effective when passing when necessary. The offensive game plan didn’t have him throwing out of five-step drops.

It was a more rhythmic passing game, out of the shotgun and primarily hitting receivers on short slants and quick curls.

And on the few occasions he threw deep, he connected for a touchdown pass that decided the game.

Hey, Michigan — take notes.

There’s sufficient pressure on Robinson today at Purdue. U-M’s entire season comes down to this game.

Lose, and the Wolverines are looking at a 7-5 season … at best. Win, and the potential’s there to gain confidence that could be enough to win the Big Ten championship, worth a dollar and a quarter this season considering the champion will get blown out by either USC or Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

But after a bye week, have Brady Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges finally realized that it’s no longer about what they envision with Robinson, but rather an admittance of what they have with Robinson?

Let Denard be Denard.

Let him run. Let him pass at low risk as often as possible. Let him play to his strengths as Meyer is letting Miller do at Ohio State.

Hoke strongly defended Robinson this week. He has to. Nobody will admit what I’ve argued the past two years — that Michigan should have pushed Robinson out of the program upon Rich Rodriguez’s dismissal. Let him transfer.

Robinson, in effect, held the Michigan program hostage by staying.

He was the lone source of excitement for a program unfamiliar with national irrelevance, and supporters clung to him to the point where Hoke had no alternative but to work with Robinson and acclimate him — in incremental doses, naturally — to his desired pro-style offense.

It should be clear now — that strategy didn’t work.

ANOTHER TRIPLE CROWN: Miguel Cabrera’s Triple Crown wasn’t the only remarkable threesome. The Mystic One’s 11-17 overall record (2-3 last week against the point spread) proved that it’s possible that someone can look ridiculous in picking Illinois in anything, thinking a Michigan State receiver actually could score a touchdown. It’s time again for the all-seeing, all-knowing, famed seer, sage, soothsayer and former chief editor for Ohio State’s football film crew … The Great Boodini.

Michigan (minus-3) at Purdue: The Boilermakers’ difficulties in keeping the Wolverines out of the end zone on kickoff and punt returns confirmed the whereabouts of the Lions’ special-teams coach during their NFL bye week. Pick — Michigan.

Michigan State (minus-14 1/2) at Indiana: The Big Ten’s decision not to discipline the Spartans for an apparent eye-gouging incident in the bottom of the pile against Ohio State was the result of Mark Dantonio’s explanation that he and his coordinators simply were auditioning for the Three Stooges’ movie sequel. Pick — Indiana.

Nebraska (plus-3 1/2) at Ohio State: The Cornhuskers accuse Meyer of more chicanery when the Buckeyes’ game film they received was an edited version of an electric football game Meyer’s kids played 10 years ago, explaining Nebraska’s shock when Braxton Miller didn’t constantly run around in circles. Pick — Ohio State.